Flukicide efficacy against Fasciola hepatica of Triclabendazole and Nitroxynil in cattle of the central valley of Chile.

On a farm with permanent history of fasciolasis a study was performed aimed to know the efficacy of triclabendazole (TCBZ) and then to contrast with that of nitroxynil. Thirty-nine cattle naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica were randomly allocated into 4 experimental groups: Group 1 (control) was left untreated. Group 2 was treated with of 12 mg/kg body weight (bw) of TCBZ by oral route. Group 3 treated with 24 mg/kg bw TCBZ orally. Group 4 was treated with 10 mg/kg bw of nitroxynil subcutaneously. The anthelmintic efficacy was calculated as the percentage of reduction in faecal egg count (FEC) at 14 and 28 d post-treatment. Results indicated that there were no significant differences in the percentage of FEC reduction between control group and the groups treated with 12 or 24 mg/kg of TCBZ. On the contrary, the treatment with nitroxinyl significantly reduced the FEC and decreased the percentage of positive animals. In conclusion, Fasciola hepatica is reported for first time as resistant to TCBZ in Chile, which highlights the need of rotating drugs and assessing the efficacy of the administered drug in order to avoid the selection of resistant worms.

Flukicide efficacy against Fasciola hepatica of Triclabendazole and Nitroxynil in cattle of the central valley of Chile / Avaliação da eficácia de triclabendazol e nitroxinil para o tratamento da infeção por Fasciola hepatica em bovinos do Vale Central do Chile

Abstract On a farm with permanent history of fasciolasis a study was performed aimed to know the efficacy of triclabendazole (TCBZ) and then to contrast with that of nitroxynil. Thirty-nine cattle naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica were randomly allocated into 4 experimental groups: Group 1 (control) was left untreated. Group 2 was treated with of 12 mg/kg body weight (bw) of TCBZ by oral route. Group 3 treated with 24 mg/kg bw TCBZ orally. Group 4 was treated with 10 mg/kg bw of nitroxynil subcutaneously. The anthelmintic efficacy was calculated as the percentage of reduction in faecal egg count (FEC) at 14 and 28 d post-treatment. Results indicated that there were no significant differences in the percentage of FEC reduction between control group and the groups treated with 12 or 24 mg/kg of TCBZ. On the contrary, the treatment with nitroxinyl significantly reduced the FEC and decreased the percentage of positive animals. In conclusion, Fasciola hepatica is reported for first time as resistant to TCBZ in Chile, which highlights the need of rotating drugs and assessing the efficacy of the administered drug in order to avoid the selection of resistant worms.

Resumo Em uma fazenda com histórico de fasciolose permanente, foi realizado um estudo com o objetivo de conhecer a eficácia do triclabendazol (TCBZ) e depois contrastar com o do nitroxinil. Trinta e nove bovinos naturalmente infectados com Fasciola hepatica foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos experimentais: Grupo 1 (controle), sem tratamento. O grupo 2 foi tratado com 12 mg/kg de peso vivo (PV) do TCBZ por via oral (VO). Grupo 3 tratado com 24 mg/kg de PV TCBZ por VO. O grupo 4 foi tratado com 10 mg /kg de PV Nitroxinil via subcutânea. A eficácia anti-helmíntica foi calculada comparando a percentagem de redução na contagem de ovos fecais (FEC) 14 e 28 dias pós tratamento. Não houve diferença significativa na porcentagem de redução FEC entre o grupo controle e os grupos tratados com 12 ou 24 mg/kg de TCBZ. Entretanto, o tratamento com nitroxinil reduziu significativamente o FEC e diminuiu a porcentagem de animais positivos. Em conclusão, a Fasciola hepatica é relatada pela primeira vez como resistente ao TCBZ no Chile, o que destaca a necessidade de realizar uma rotação em relação aos medicamentos anti-helmínticos e avaliar a eficácia do mesmo, a fim de evitar a seleção de vermes resistentes.

Changes on the Modulation of the Startle Reflex in Alcohol-Dependent Patients after 12 Weeks of a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention.

AIMS: Little is known about changes in the modulation of the startle reflex when patients go through an alcohol-dependence treatment in an outpatient facility. In the current study, the affective modulation of the cue-related startle reflex has been used to evaluate changes in the emotional processing of alcohol-related stimuli that occurred after a standard cognitive-behavioral intervention, and to assess the outcome of this intervention. We hypothesized a 'normalization' of the startle inhibition for the alcohol-related cues during the period of treatment. We also assumed that higher startle inhibition at baseline elicited by alcohol cues would predict the relapse on alcohol consumption during treatment. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 98 alcohol-dependent subjects were included who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence. A control group of 72 subjects was selected to match demographic characteristics. MEASUREMENTS: All patients received a standard cognitive-behavioral therapy once a week throughout the study period. FINDINGS: Results show that the startle response differed significantly after 12 weeks of treatment for alcohol-related, neutral and aversive stimuli between alcohol-dependent patients and controls. Low startle responses at baseline to alcohol cues predicted relapse. CONCLUSIONS: These results may indicate that the startle reflex is referred to enduring and permanent processes of cue reactivity, and that the emotional processing of alcohol-associated cues assessed with the affect-modulated startle reflex is less altered by interventions attempting to influence explicit cognitions. Furthermore, lower values of the baseline startle reflex elicited by alcohol-associated stimuli were associated with higher probability of relapse on alcohol use.

Validation of the Spanish version of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST).

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and its effectiveness as a screening tool for problematic alcohol, tobacco and other psychoactive substance use in groups of low, moderate, and high risk users. METHODS: A test battery including the ASSIST and several standardized screening, assessment, and diagnostic instruments was administered to 485 patients recruited in different primary health-care facilities and specialized addiction treatment units from Health Area 11 in Madrid. RESULTS: ASSIST cut-off scores show a good sensitivity and specificity for discrimination between substance use and abuse and between abuse and dependence. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between ASSIST scores and scores from the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Revised Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (RTQ) and the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). CONCLUSIONS: Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the ASSIST indicate that is a valid screening test for identifying substance use disorders in various health-care settings.

[Alcoholic jealousy: an old and current dilemma]. / Celopatía alcohólica: un antiguo y actual dilema.

The relation between alcohol and jealousy is a deeply rooted belief within the general population as well as in the medical, and particularly psychiatric, environment. Furthermore, in recent years there has been a growing interest on the forensic aspects of pathological jealousy, since they are a frequent cause of severe violence, homicide and suicide. Some authors have described a high prevalence of pathological jealousy in alcoholic patients, even awarding it a pathognomonic value in alcoholism. Nevertheless, recent studies do not completely support this relation, and draw attention to other factors. Results from the various studies contain several definitions and classifications of pathological jealousy, and although most of them highlight the prevalence of jealousy in alcoholic patients, they question its pathognomonic quality. Also, the presence of pathological jealousy in subjects with psychiatric disorders other than alcoholism is suggested, indicating the existence of predisposing and triggering factors which could explain the development of pathological jealousy. Yet, the important methodological difficulties in the published articles and the shortage of studies do not allow the confirmation of the alcoholic etiology in pathological jealousy; this is the reason why considering alcoholic jealousy as a separate entity is debatable. In this sense, the best diagnosis in these patients would be paranoid disorder combined with alcoholic dependence, hence, a dual diagnosis.

Immunological approach in the evaluation of regional lymph nodes of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

In cancer, regional lymph node (LN) cells are one of the first components of the immune system to have contact with tumor cells or their products. Therefore, the phenotype and functional properties of hematopoietic cells present within the tumor-draining LN are important to understanding their role in the control of malignant cells. Based on the locoregional metastatic behavior of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCH&N) region, we analyzed tumor-draining lymph nodes from SCCH&N patients to obtain insights into regional tumor immunity. Using a three-color fluorescent labeling technique, surface antigen expression was visualized in mononuclear cells of lymph nodes that were obtained from head and neck cancer patients and compared to mononuclear cells of normal lymph nodes. Cell cycle analyses were performed using propidium iodide. Proliferation after phytohemagglutinin stimulation was measured by a sodium tetrazolium-based assay. LN histology was correlated with flow cytometric findings. Regional lymph nodes of head and neck cancer patients undergo morphologic and functional changes. Flow cytometry revealed a decrease in CD8(+) T cells and in some lymph nodes the presence of second or third populations of larger cells with distinct size and granularity that expressed both T (gammadelta/alphabeta) and different natural killer cell markers. Moreover, cell cycle analyses and proliferation assays showed a diminished response to mitogenic stimuli. These changes were found in both metastatic and hyperplastic lymph nodes from head and neck cancer patients; however, no alterations were found in control lymph nodes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells from noncancer patients. The immune alterations detected in lymphocytes present within the draining lymph nodes of head and neck cancer patients may improve our understanding of how tumor cells escape host immunosurveillance. However, this dysfunction in local draining lymph nodes may not be detected systemically.

Predisposición genética del cáncer de la glándula mamaria / Genetic predisposition to breast cancer

La existencia de mutaciones en línea germinal en los genes BRCA1 y BRCA2 que confieren susceptibilidad familiar para el desarrollo del cáncer de la mama constituye un avance de gran importancia para el estudio de la historia natural de la enfermedad. Las mutaciones en BRCA1 también predisponen para el desarrollo de tumores malignos del ovario lo que determina que sea posible encontrar en una misma familia mujeres que padecen cáncer de mama cáncer de ovario o con menor frecuencia, los dos tumores. El producto de BRCA2, el otro gen de susceptibilidad para el cáncer de mama, tiene propiedades funcionales distintas como lo demuestra la rareza del cáncer del ovario y su asociación con el cáncer mamario en varones. El análisis genético de otros tumores malignos ha revelado que mutaciones BRCA1 o en BRCA2 también son predisponentes. Es importante mencionar que 30 por ciento de los tumores con antecedentes hereditarios no tienen mutaciones en BRCa1 o en BRCA2 lo que sugiere que existen otros genes que confieren susceptibilidad para el cáncer de mama

Evaluación de la función citotóxica por células asesinas naturales y de los niveles circulares de factor de necrosis tumoral Ó durante el tratamiento con BCG en pacientes con melanoma maligno estadio clínico II / Assessment of the cytotoxic function for natural killing cells and of circulating levels of the tumor necrosis factor Ó during the treatment with BCG in patients with malignant melanoma clinical stage II

Los mecanismos de vigilancia inmune proveen los medios para discriminar lo propio de lo extraño. Las respuestas inmunes contra tumores se llevan a cabo a través de complejos mecanismos que, involucran a linfocitos T citotóxicos (LTC), células asesinas naturales o macrófagos. Además, factores solubles genéricamente denominados citocinas, influyen sobre el curso e intensidad de la respuesta inmune. El melanoma maligno es uno de los tumores mejor caracterizados desde el punto de vista inmunológico y, por lo tanto, ha sido seleccionado como un modelo para evaluar la capacidad antineoplástica de productos que estimulan al sistema inmune, por ejemplo el BCG o la interleucina 2. En este trabajo se demuestra que la administración de BCG a enfermos con melanoma maligno en estudio clínico II indujo un incremento de los niveles ciruclantes del factor de necrosis tumoral Ó y de la actividad lítica mediada por células asesinas naturales in vitro en contra de K562, y sólo en forma discreta en contra de líneas celulares obtenidas de melanoma. Los cambios descritos no se tradujeron en un incremento en el periodo libre de enfermedad o en la supervivencia de los enfermos

Primary B cell lymphoma of the rectum in a patient coinfected with HIV-1 and HTLV-I

Este artículo describe el caso clínico de un enfermo con SIDA coinfectado por HTLV-1 que desarrolló un linfoma B del recto, variedad sarcoma inmunoblástico con diferenciación plasmacitoide. Las células malignas mostraron arreglo clonal de los genes de las CP (Jh) y CLk. La infección por el VEB fue demostrada serológicamente y por hibridación de un monitor específico con el ADN genómico de las células cancerosas. No se detectaron secuencias de HTLV-1 en el seno del tumor. Una remisión clínica completa, pero temporal, se obtuvo con siete ciclos de VACO-B. El enfermo abandonó el tratamiento y la sobrevida se desconoce.

Clinical, histologic and genetic characterization of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in mexicans

En este artículo describimos la distribución anatómica, las características histológicas y moleculares de 32 casos de LNH. La estadificación clínica y clasificación histológica por grados se hizo de acuerdo a esquemas aceptados convencionalmente. Los arreglos detectados en genes que codifican para Ig o el RcT sirvieron para identificar la estirpe celular y el estadio de diferenciación de las células neoplásicas. El análisis de 26 muestras de suero reveló la existencia de anticuerpos contra epítopes de EBV; ocho de estos pacientes contenían secuencias virales integradas en el genoma del tumor. Nuestros estudios indican que el uso de diferentes métodos es fundamental para profundizar en el conocimiento de la historia natural de los LNH.

Mucosectomía rectal con construcción de un reservorio ileal y anastomosis íleo-anal / Rectal mucosectomy with the construction of an ileal resevoir and ileo-anal anastomosis

La mayoría de los pacientes con colitis ulcerativa crónica inespecífica o poliposis familiar múltiple que requieren una proctocolectomía total deben adaptar su vida a una Ileostomía permanente. Esto crea en una proporción elevada de pacientes problemas psicológicos y médicos importantes. La mucosectomía rectal con creación de un reservorio ileal, con anastomosis ileoanal tiene la ventaja de que no lesiona el mecanismo esfinteriano, mantiene la continencia, y la ruta de defecación transanal y evita un estoma permanente. El presente trabajo se refiere a la experiencia con tres pacientes operados por nosotros en los últimos doce meses. Los resultados han sido excelentes, ya que los pacientes están totalmente continentes y se ha evitado un estoma abdominal permanente. Nosotros creemos que este es el procedimiento de elección para aquellos enfermos padecientes de colitis ulcerativa crónica inespecífica y poliposis familiar múltiple que necesitan cirugía

Estudio bacteriologico del agua de consumo en una comunidad mexicana / Bacteriological study of drinking water in a Mexican community

Mediante el estudio microbiologico del abastecimiento de agua en una comunidad piloto, se encontro un alto índice de contaminacion bacteriana relacionada con contaminacion fecal y se establecio una vinculacion entre presencia de plasmidos, aparicion de cepas resistentes a antimicrobianos y cepas enterotoxicas